[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 355-356]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            IN CELEBRATION OF JACK McKEON DAY IN SOUTH AMBOY

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today in behalf of Jack 
McKeon, a South Amboy native, who led the Cincinnati Reds to within one 
game of the 1999 National League Playoffs. It is a pleasure for me to 
be able to recognize his accomplishments.
  During his 50 years in Major League Baseball, Jack McKeon has been 
honored as both ``National League Manager of the Year'' and as ``Major 
League Manager of the Year.'' In his 26 years of major league managing 
he has won nearly 700 games with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland 
Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. In addition, Jack 
McKeon has also served as General Manager, receiving the ``General 
Manager of the Year'' award.
  Before Jack began his distinguished career, he had already made an 
impact

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in New Jersey. As a member of the McKeon Boys Club, Jack played his 
first organized baseball and went on to become an all-county catcher as 
a student at St. Mary's High School.
  Jack's playing career spanned 10 years in the minor leagues. During 
that time he discovered his natural ability to lead. His first pro 
coaching assignment came at the young age of 24, in which he led his 
club to a 70-67 record. His later success as a rookie manager of the 
Kansas City Royals in 1973 brought the foundering team new respect in 
the American League with a 2nd place finish. His later managerial and 
executive positions led to greater renown as he approached the 1999 
season. The strong finish of the Cincinnati Reds earned Jack the 
respect of his peers and the national press which named him Manager or 
the Year.
  So it gives me great pleasure to recognize a leader of great stature 
in New Jersey. His tremendous accomplishments in baseball, as a player, 
manager, and executive have made a significant contribution to the 
national pastime. I am pleased that one of New Jersey's native sons is 
now being honored, and I hope my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Jack on his success.

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